Welsh Liberal Democrats Councillor for Cwmbwrla Ward, City and County of Swansea - Visit my main website at www.peterblack.wales

Saturday, November 23, 2013

Synchronicity

I was only three years and 10 months old when John F Kennedy was killed so I have no idea where I was when the news came through. Equally, I was to young to get into Dr. Who and to be honest did not really start watching it regularly until the last year of the Jon Pertwee incarnation. Does that make me a bad Liberal Democrat?

I do though remember where I was when I heard the news about the shooting of John Lennon and also when the first plane hit the World Trade Centre tower on 9/11.

Now I have got that off my chest I am going back to printing leaflets.

Personal Recollections of the Attack on the TWC Towers - September 9, 2001

At the time I was getting ready to go to work across the street from my 42nd floor apartment building to my employer’s office on the 38th floor of a building built over Chicago’s Northwestern train station. One of the windows of my lounge faced Sears Tower which was about 3 or 4 blocks west of my apartment building (Presidential Towers, “PT” as it is often called, a huge complex made up of four 50 floor apartment buildings covering two city blocks along with a running track, and a swimming pool blah blah.

I was obviously living the so called "American Dream", which unfortunately was about to come to a crashing abrupt end that was about to have a big impact on the US economy and was going to send America to war).

My TV was on but with the sound turned down while I was on the phone for a few minutes making long distance calls to Wales trying to track down my Welsh mother, I had rang her new place in Splott, Cardiff, but got no reply so I was ringing her best friend’s house in Splott where she often went for a chat to see if she was there and so OK.

My attention was also focused on downing a quick cup of Tetley tea and searching for things that I needed to take to my office on the 38th floor in another high-rise building just across the street. I turned off the soundless TV and headed out. Two express elevator rides later I was at work and walked straight to the firm's café-come-ornate-diner to grab a cup of coffee before heading to my office. Even as a wee law clerk I had my own office and a share of a secretary – something that would never have happened to me back home in the UK.

Then a reality check. Debbie, the firm's office manager, seemed puzzled that I was in the office, she said: "Haven't you heard about the World Trade Center (WTC)?" I replied: "No, but it's designed to take a hit from an airliner." She quickly replied: "That's what's happened." I was in shock. I went to the firm's main conference room. There were a couple of lawyers who hadn't left - they there watching the TV. Then the first tower collapsed (I didn’t know for sure if it real - one of the lawyers told me it was real alright – he talked like he had grit in his teeth, probably seen service).

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The views on this website are personal and should not be assumed to reflect the policy of the Welsh Liberal Democrats or the Liberal Democrats. I do not accept any responsibility for the content of any websites linked from this blog nor should such be implied by my linking to them. Links exist to provide a wider experience of politics and life on the internet or to reciprocate for links here. The views of those commenting on posts are those of them alone. They are published to provoke debate and their publication should not be takem as an endorsement by me.

Published and promoted by Peter Black, 115 Cecil Street, Manselton, Swansea, SA5 8QL on behalf of himself

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